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lO6. COMPOSITIONS,

' ture of sand, gravel, and similar material with to the absorption of moistureboth of which J as follows: I take good clean silicioussand,

" Of these materials I take preferably of the 5 Tothis Ithen add pulverized or fine'l'fl )owdered 'tity of water in which therehas been previ- COATING OR PLASTIC.

I UNITED Q ARTIFICIAL STONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 268,515, dated December 5. 1882.

STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. MEYERS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Application filed October 17, 1882. (No specimens To all whom it may concern: t

Be it known that I, JOHN G. MEYERS, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Artificial Stone, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of artificial stone, more especially designed for building purposes, though it may be used for other purposes also; and the invention consists 10' in the combination of certain ingredients to form the stone, and in a novel method of arranging or applying the same, as hereinafter more'fully set forth.

Artificial stone has long been made of a mixcement; but in making the same I have found two objections-viz.,that it is subject to an ef florescence upon its surface after exposure for a time to the atmosphere, and is also subject ob'jec tiofis arseriodsfdfawbacks or hinderances to its general introduction and use.

The object of my present invention is to obviate these difiiculties by the production of an 25 artificial stone which shall be practically imr ae. t2re 9eam9itme r surface of which no efflorescence or discoloration shall occur.

To produce stone of this character I proceed gravel, or rock of any suitable kind, crushed or broken into small fragments, so as to present a rough surface on the particles by destroying ,the natural or smooth surface of the stone, es- 3 5 'pecially when using bowlders, pebbles, or similar smooth stone. Furnace-slag broken brick,

or any similar hard v used in lieu of the broken stone, or in connection therewith, care being taken to break or 0 crush it into small fragments, as above stated.

lum an amount equal to ten per cent. of the amountof cement used, and thoroughly mixthe whole while dry. I then add the required quano ously ISSO ved conceptrated lye in the proportion of wo oundsto each bagel of cementuqy used. The mass 1s thoroughly stirred and mixed, and is then placed in molds of the re- A,

quired size and shape, and after being well 7 pressed or tamped therein it is removed from 5 5 the mold and left until it hasv become well dried, when it is fit for use. 1

While the foregoing proportions are such as I propose to use ordinarily, it is obvious that they maybe varied somewhat without mate- 6:;

rially alteratin g the nature or character of the stone. For instance, the proportions of sand and broken stone or similar material may be varied at will, or good sharp sand, or sand and gravel alone may 0 use 0, too, the pro- 6 portions of alum and concentrated lye should be varied to correspond with the chemical qualities of the cement used, some cements containing more saltpeter than others, and when such are used the proportion of alum and lye should be increased accordingly. Where it is desired to produce a cheaper quality of this stone-as, for instance, in the shell lime. The refuse lime from as-houses may also Be used toTa vantag e. l 't fi'ns ea of mixin g the alum and'lye through the entire mass, it

may be applied to the outer layer an inch or two thick only. In that case theinterior portion will j be composed of the broken material and sand mixed with the requisite amountof cement and water, while the outer portions will be com,- posed of sand and cement having the alum and lye added, as above described, the material for the innerand outer portions being mixed separately, and so placed in the mold that the whole outer portion shall be composed of the mixture containing the alum and lye. In eithergo case the chemical effect of the" alum and lye is such as to entirely preventany efflorescence or discoloration upon the exterior surface of the V stone, and at the same time renders the stone much more impervious to moisture and harder.

A similar efl'ect may be prodiiced by the use of moni 'n lieu of the alum and l e, and in v thafi'e'sp elc l 1t may be considered as the equi'v- While I have described the stone as being made into blocks by the use of molds, it is obvious that walls may be laid up solid of it by- A mixed with the material, and then properly arranging portions of them in the mold, a great variety of variegated, veined, or marbled styles of stone may be produced.

This stone is adapted to all the uses of ordinary stone and briok-such as buildings of all kinds, pavements, arches, bridges, walls, and the like-and may either be molded and laid with mortar or cement, like ordinary stone or brick, or it may be formed in place, as may be preferred.

Having thus' fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. An artificial stone composed of a mixture of sand or similar material, cement or lime, with the addition of alum and concentrated lye or their equivale'fitTsdbstantrally as de- "scribed.

2. The use or addition in the manufacture of artificial stone of alum and lye'or their equivalent, substantially as described, whether the same be incorporated through the entire mass or with the outerlayeronly, substantially as set forth. 7

JOHN G. MEYERS,

Witnesses H. A. HALL, CHAS. OURTIN. 

